The Soils of the Morrow Plots. (4151)
Authors:
H.E. Winzeler* - University of Illinois R.G. Darmody - University of Illinois
Abstract:
The Morrow Plots, located on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, are the oldest experimental agricultural study in the U.S.A. and include the oldest continuously cropped corn fields under study in the world. The experimental design includes variable soil fertility regimes and crop rotations. We examined treatment effects on selected soil properties. Soil aggregate stability (SAS) increased with longer crop rotation sequences; corn-oats-hay rotation proved the most stable while plots cropped continuously with corn showed the least SAS. Samples taken from the surrounding grass border of the plots that have not been cultivated for over 100 years showed the most SAS. Samples from subplots with different fertility treatments but matching rotation practices showed little difference in SAS. Soil particle size analyses also showed little to no textural difference between pedons taken from different areas within the plots. This lends support to the notion of initial soil homogeneity of the plots, implying that even with lack of experimental replication and randomization, we can attribute differences in SAS to cropping and rotation practices rather than to indigenous differences in soil texture.
Speaker Information: H. Edwin Winzeler, University of Illinois, 906 S. Maple, Urbana, IL 61801; Phone:
217-344-0300; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM Presentation Start: 4:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 2633)
Keywords: Morrow Plots; Tillage; Crop Rotation; Long-term research plot
